Hot Chocolate Gift!

With the thermometer reading -15 degrees this morning, it was the perfect time to make some hot chocolate. Which reminded me of this fun gift we received. It is homemade hot chocolate in a nice disposable travel mug. It was in a clear bag tied shut with a ribbon.

Here is the fun disposable mug filled with homemade hot chocolate, you can get these by the plastic/styrofoam cups at the grocery store.

Then inside the cup in a plastic bag was the hot chocolate, so you just need to pour out the mix and add hot water. YUM!

Car Emergency Kit!

Lately we have been noticing our car kit is extremely lacking, we are out of Kleenex and band-aids, and when we got out the flashlight the other day, the batteries were leaking acid. Needless to say, since it was -4 degrees today, it was the perfect time to redo the Emergency Car Kit in case we ever need it.

Here is what we put in ours:
-Band-aids
-Peroxide
-Kleenex
-General First-aid Kit
-Matches
-Disposable Camera
-Hand Sanitizer
-Towel
-Flashlight/Batteries
-Hat and Gloves
-Dry Socks
-Duct Tape
-Multi-tool and Knife
-Blanket
-Organic Fruit Leather
-Hand Warmers
-Notepad and Pencil
-10 $1 bills
-Chapstick
-Plastic bag
-Sunscreen
-Poncho
-Bungee Cords
-Jumper Cables
-Tire Gauge
-Glow Stick

I got the idea to put it in a clear container and label it with my silhouette from Life In The Thrifty Lane. Thanks for the GREAT idea. :)

Pop Tab Bracelet!

I've have been wanting to make one of these awesome pop tab bracelets for awhile, I think these are so cool, but when I tried, it was definitely a craft fail. So... I enlisted the help of my cousin Shelby and she weaved this one up for me!

Shelby weaved one with stretchy cord for me, but if you want to try to make one on your own, check out this tutorial HERE from Craft Envy.

Name Art!

I couldn't wait to post the craft I made today (that's why the picture is not great, I just finished it and took it outside, even though it's 9pm). I took these pictures of things outside that had the letters of our last name over a year ago with hopes to find a frame with 7 spots. I never found a frame that would work, until this weekend when I got the idea to just use a scrap piece of wood.

Here's what I did:
-I cut a board to the size I wanted
(ok, I had my husband do that, but I could have, hehe)
-I painted the board black
-I Modge Podged the pictures onto the board
-I Modge Podged the top of all the pictures
-I sprayed the whole thing with sealer to make sure it stays nice

Yeah! It feels so good to finish this project, and I am actually really happy I never found a frame. I love how this turned out.

Spotlight Sunday! Congrats Nicole!

Yesterday we went to my niece Nicole's high school graduation open house! We are so proud of what an amazing person she is, and are SO happy for her.

(Left to Right: Molly, Heidi, Nora, Nicole)

I think Molly looks like Nicole, and Nora looks like Heidi, what do you think?)

Molly LOVES her cousins!

Congrats Nicole! We Love You!

Make your own coasters!

This weekend I finally got a chance to make some coasters for the leaning desks in my dining room. I used this tutorial from Little Lizard King as inspiration. I'm loving the Mod Podge this week!

They were so fun and easy to make, I used scrapbook paper I thought would match the valances I made for that room really well, you can see them here.

So happy with how they turned out, we even got a chance to use them today.

Spotlight Sunday! Artwork Display Bar

I got this great idea to use a curtain rod and ring clips to make a way to display artwork in Molly's room from Frills, Fluff and Trucks. I love how it looks in Molly's room, and she absolutely loves picking out what artwork she wants to hang up to look at.

I got this silver rod and clips from Target. It took about 2 minutes to hang up, super easy and cheap. Love it!

Lego Necklace! Spotlight Sunday!

As soon as I saw this tutorial on how to make a Lego Necklace, I knew I had to make a red one for my cousin Shelby! It is SO cool, and I loved making it. It was so easy, it took about 30 seconds to make. Head over to We Are That Family, to see how to make your own.

Hope you love it Shelby!

Spotlight Sunday! Pink Big Girl Room

Back in October, right after Molly turned 2, we switched her room over to a "Big Girl Room." I wanted to make sure she was used to sleeping in a big bed long before we had the new baby. And being potty trained we figured she should be able to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. The switch went REALLY well. I was prepared for many nights of her getting out of bed and such, but she actually was so excited it went great from the beginning. I could hardly believe it!

Well, I don't know if I was nesting or just crazy, then I decided it was time to get new carpet in all the bedrooms and hallway. I also had the great idea to paint Molly's room PINK, yup pink. :) My husband thought I was crazy, but we all love the pink room now.

So I had my mom come over and paint the room pink before the carpet came in, she did such a good job. It looks so much different, the walls used to be a silver color. Now when ever anyone comes over, Molly asks if they want to see her pink room. She also tells them that her and her Grandma painted it. :)

Anyways, I haven't had a chance to get pictures up of the room yet. So here they finally are for all the friends and family who haven't seem the new "Pink Big Girl Room."

Ahhh!!!! Pink everywhere. :)

New Big Girl Bed. The side rails come off, but I love having them on for now, except they make making the bed a challenge.

Yup, It's a good thing Molly was a girl. Love the pink!

Super excited to find the bookcase on sale at Target, I LOVE YOU TARGET!





PEEK AT THE NURSERY

And I know I have a lot of you anxious to see the new nursery, so here is a "Peek" at what is coming. :)

Yup, that's Chalkboard Paint on the closet door, I know some of you thought I was crazy, but I LOVE how it turned out. And my wonderfully creative Aunt helped me make the photo board.

Bedding! :)

Cookie Recipe - Spotlight Sunday

YUM YUM YUM!!! For the cookie exchange I go to, I decided to try a new recipe this year. Last week my husband was in Texas all week so I knew I needed an easier recipe if I wanted any chance of actually getting to make something.

I found this recipe from Pillsbury and it looked so good, and easy. And let me tell you, they were SO good and easy. :) Here is the recipe link, if you are in need of a new cookie recipe I definitely recommend. YUM YUM YUM!!!

Nativity Set - Spotlight Sunday!

This week I wanted to show off Molly's amazing Nativity Set! My Grandpa (Molly's Great Grandpa) cut out the pieces in wood, and then my talented Aunt Amy took the time to paint them for my daughter and my niece. I think they are fantastic!

I let Molly set them up on the dresser in her room, she is so excited to have something special of her own for Christmas in her room. She talks about them everyday, and I love how it gives me the opportunity to talk about it with her and tell her about why we celebrate Christmas.

Right now she loves the sheep.

I wish I was talented enough to make these!

She's going to enjoy them forever!

Now I am just in need of finding a really good book about The Christmas Story to read to a two year old. We have read a few from the library, but nothing like I had hoped. If anyone has any suggestions let me know.

And thanks again for the hard work and great Nativity Set Grandpa and Amy, we LOVE it.

Sunday's Spotlight

I love carving pumpkins, and I thought this was so fun. Give virtual pumpkin carving a try here:

Virtual Pumpkin Carving!


I found this idea from, Sprinkled With Blessing From Above, she has many more great sites for giving virtual pumpkin carving a try.
This a super fun activity I've been playing with all afternoon, and I'm sure kids would love too. :) Hope everyone is enjoying the fun fall activities!!!

Sunday's Spotlight

I've been missing in action... but for a great reason.
I'm happy to announce that we are having another...

BABY!!!

We are very excited, but like last time, I am very, very, very sick. It is even harder to be so sick this time since I am taking care of Molly at the same time.

I am finally getting more on top of things, and am starting to be able to leave the house and start to do some normal things again. I am praying I won't be sick the whole 9 months this time, like I was last time.

Sunday's Spotlight!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

To the best dad our daughter could ever have!

We LOVE you!!!

And to my dad, Happy Father's Day!! We love you.

Hope everyone had a great Father's Day!

Sunday's Spotlight!

This week I am spotlighting SUNSCREEN! I am a huge, huge supporter of using sunscreen. My husband, daughter and I are all very blond, blue eyed and pale; which means we get burned in a second. So, I've spend years trying all kinds of sunscreen.

Today, we went to a baseball game in the direct sunlight for over three hours, and after applying 2 layers of sunscreen, none of us got any sun. It was awful to watch the people around us getting redder as the game progressed. Please, be kind to your skin and put on sunscreen, IT WORKS!!!

Sunday's Spotlight! (Tuesday Edition)

Hi Everyone! I hope you had a great weekend! I know it's not Sunday, but we just got back from a wonderful weekend away. It was my birthday yesterday, (ah yes, I am now older) so took a long weekend and went camping, and yesterday my husband and I went to Chicago! It was so much fun, but I am glad to be back to an Internet connection! I realized I have a small (massive) addiction to the blog world.

Sunday's Spotlight!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAISY!!!

My sweet niece Maisy had her birthday party today! She has grown up so fast! She was such a cutie singing and clapping and just enjoying turning 2! Happy birthday Maisy, we love you!

Molly and cousin Maisy playing in the wagon at the party!

Maisy was so gracious, she clapped after all her gifts. It was beyond adorable!

Sunday's Spotlight!

This week was our last church small group lesson. We have been using the book and CD, Growing the Marriage of Your Dreams, by Max Lucado. I really recommend this Bible Study. It is easy to follow and listen to, and brings up some great topics when looking at marriage and the differences between a husband and a wife.

Sunday's Spotlight!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

(Molly and me at the Whitecaps game last night)

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. I really enjoyed spending time with my daughter for Mother's Day, we went to a Whitecaps Game last night, and today played outside, took naps (really, all of us!!!) and spent time with my husbands family. (my mom had to work, so we will have to celebrate soon) It was very nice!

(My mom and me in Chicago)

I was looking for a picture of just me and my mom to put up, and realized I don't have very many! I really need to work on getting more pictures with my mom.

.

Everyone says we look alike, what do you think? I love you mom!!! Happy Mother's Day!!!

Sunday's Spotlight!

This week's spotlight is... TULIP TIME!!!

This week I am going with a Tulip Time theme, since it is Tulip Time all week! If you've never been to Holland, or the Tulip Time Festival, check it out at TulipTime.com. It is a festival to celebrate the tulips as well as our areas Dutch heritage.



One of the highlights of the festival is the dutch dancing. Hundred of adults and high school kids work very hard to learn traditional Dutch dances and wear authentic dutch costumes that are very strictly inspected for accuracy. Then, during Tulip Time, they dance daily for everyone who comes out to see.

(This is me and my daughter last year in our Dutch costumes)

I LOVE dutch dance, and myself along with Katie at A Listmaker's Life, and Shelby at Schweri Stories, are part of a great group of 12 that Dutch dance during the festival. Katie at Katie's Nesting Spot has a great video of part of our dance from when she came to watch!

If you are in Holland, Michigan come out and enjoy Tulip Time, and if you get the chance, come and watch us dance, or catch a parade or two!

HAPPY TULIP TIME!!!

(If your not into the Tulip Time fun, come back next week, I have some great tutorials I made and can't wait to share!)